[flower_mom]

The following is my stockpile of school supplies. I have gotten all of this for free or almost free in just the past 2 months. Not everything is in the pictures (because we've used some of it already )
I don't have any good storage for this kind of thing, so after taking the pictures, I simply put it all in a large box with a printout of everything inside so it will not be forgotten when it is needed.
I wish I had better organizational skills
Ok...Here goes (I haven't posted pics before on here...hope it works!)...

Tell me what you think and also any recommendations on storage.
ty

[crackedwillow]

Great idea to stockpile supplies, and nice display.

I buy about (20) Composition Notebooks each year, about 40-Spiral Notebooks(still need to buy, and need the Mead-5 Star 1 Sub NBs), and numerous pens, erasers, and highlighters. With the CVS deals this school year, I haven't been running to other stores as much......

When July came around this year, I still had a large supply from last year to go through....

[staviles]

School supplies is actually something I go crazy on every single year (have 5 kids in school) and my DH thinks I have an obsession with school supplies...I have over 40 packs of notebook paper (from the $.10 sale at OfficeMax)..over 100 spiral notebooks (from the $.01 sale at OfficeMax), over 50 6 packs of highlighters, over 50 packs of mechanical pencils, over 30 packs of Bic pens, and over 25 Pilot G2 pens, over 100 packs of 10-pack OfficeDepot pencils, over 100 2 pocket folders ($.05 at OfficeDepot and OfficeMax) and over 20 4-packs of glue (OfficeMax and Office Depot) as well as several 5 subject notebooks (clearanced at WAGS)...everytime I needed a filler at WAGS I would grab highlighters, erasers, or pencil sharpners and well I would pass at least 5 Office Max and Office Depots on the way to and from work so it was hard not to stop ...like I said, my family thinks I go a little overboard...but I keep them all in a rubbermaid bin labeled school supplies and then tuck it into a spare closet in our room to grab from all year long. I am waiting for tomorrow at WAGS when the backpacks will $4.99 and there will be a $5 RR wyb $25.

[lholley]

I ABSOLUTELY love buying school supplies at this time of year (when they're cheap). My DH is a 5th grade teacher and we always furnish his art boxes for each child in his homeroom. Plus, we live in a very economically disadvantaged area, so he is constantly giving out pencils and other supplies. So, I like to buy enough to get through the school year so we don't have to pay regular price. It's hard enough coming up with the money for the cheap stuff!!

[djcullen]

I stockpile school supplies every year also. For this school year all I had to do was go shopping in my garage. I store all of mine in a large plastic bin, except the crayons because I don't want to take the chance they might melt in our hot southern heat during summers.

I laugh because other parents go and buy the ready made school supply boxes from school every year for $45 a pop. My out of pocket for school supplies was $6.00 this year~ I also gave friends school supplies too.

It is always the excuse about fighting crowds and blah blah blah. I say buy ahead when every thing is clearanced. You have the supply list for every grade available so you know what your child will need for the next year.

[Devins mom]

I stockpiled school supplies that were free after ecb's but my children wont be going to school for awhile so instead of keeping them i donated them. Why should i hold on to them when someone can use them. I did keep all the pens and some paper though.

[lholley]

I CAN'T wait to hit the clearance deals this year also. Thanks to AFC I'll get a heads up when they are going on!!!

[crazydaizy2083]

I made the rounds for all the 1, 5 and 10 cents stuff at the office supply stores and all the stuff free after ECB this year. I have quite a stockpile and I am a single person. I have many friends who are teachers, so I will be donating a lot of it. It is a habit that my mom instilled in me when I was younger, she always stockpiled school supplies during back to school because they are so darn expensive the rest of the year! Thanks for sharing all your deals!

[NinaJo]

I checked no on the poll. I just get supplies for my neighbors 4 kids, but I don't really donate.

[bidzaway]

I always stock up on school supplies and donate the rest/extra I don't use. I've got about 30 marble notebooks, and 40 spiral bound notebooks and am planning on donating 40 of them...

[MRHabetz]

Darn.......I wish I would have started couponing better earlier so I could do this too!! Anything still going on? I would love to know, PM me if anyone knows of anything still on sale or going to be please!!!! Thanks so much!!! Oh and great job!!!

[flower_mom]

Originally Posted by MRHabetz

Darn.......I wish I would have started couponing better earlier so I could do this too!! Anything still going on? I would love to know, PM me if anyone knows of anything still on sale or going to be please!!!! Thanks so much!!! Oh and great job!!!

It seems all the great deals of school supplies is over. I assume once school starts for everyone, the deals stop.
Maybe next year for you!

[seven31]

I just started stockpiling school supplies as well but need to find a place to put everything.

[preciousgirl1120]

With 4 kids in school, I have a huge stock pile of school supplies. I have a 30 gallon rubbermate tote full of notebook paper. I have another tote that has 100 spiral notebooks, 50 packs of pens, 60 packs of pencils, 20 packs of each; index cards, glue sticks, mechanical pens, highlighters, 100 two pocket folders, ..... Dh and I donated over enough school supplies for the kids he works with.

[karenvallone]

I love to buy school supplies as well! My babies are 20 and 22. DD (20) is still in college so she doesnt need all the glue ,crayons etc but i buy them anyway! Afriend of ours just began her teaching career as a pre school teacher and i called her to come get a huge box of supplies appropriate for her students. She was tickled pink. But I probably have at least 60 packs of filler paper, 40 notebooks etc. I also store mine in huge totes. Plus I have another box full markers, colored pencils, mechanical pencils that I am keeping for home use. DD is president of her sorority and she is always making signs and whatnot.....I love school supplies. I did like PP about making a list of what was in the totes...I will have to get on that.

[staviles]

There is still a lot of good deals to be had on school supplies..Target is clearancing out most of their stuff and their 2 pack composition books are $.62 as well as the 4 pack of 1 subject notebooks at $.42...as for ongoing sales..Officemax has a bunch of great stuff this week...the rulers are $.01, filler paper $.25, poly binders $.30, markers and colored pencils are also $.25...still a great price for stocking up!!!

[kimmyann123]

these are also great to donate to schools in the middle of the year when stocks are running low...

[applerama]

I don't have kids, but I love school supplies haha. It was so weird to not have to buy new stuff for myself this summer because this is the first year since I was 6 that I didn't have school! well.. hopefully next year haha (I'm crazy, I like school)

but I did get stuff for fillers, like at Wags, and I'm going to make sure to donate them

[sugarprincess]

No I don't donate right now because I have 3 kids, 2 of which are in school (2nd grade and preschool). So anything I stockpile gets used I am also looking in to going back to school in the spring and will be using a lot of what I have gotten.

[flower_mom]

Thanks everyone for your posts, support, and advice on where to find the best school supplies free/clearanced! I hope everyone donates what they cannot use...There are so many kids (whole school systems) in need and I hate to see them hating school or not educating themselves because they do not have what they need to succeed!
Thanks again, everyone!

[laylamorgangrace]

good job! i rarely ever have the money to school supplies for my 2 girls so its hard to donate but i hope once i get a job i can

[JaimeDae]

Great job!! Thanks for sharing!!!